Just Super. "Pilot: Origin Story" by Rachel Brethauer
rachel@redandkitty.com (310)733-7015
JUST SUPER. “ORIGIN STORY” COLD OPEN FADE IN: INT. BANK - DAY (DAY 1) Just like every single day at the bank -- long lines, dwindling will to live. But then: Three masked men rush in, wielding shotguns and carrying duffel bags. ROBBER #1 EVERYBODY DOWN ON THE FLOOR! NOW! He points his gun at the bank patrons until they comply. Robbers 2 & 3 throw the bags at the tellers. ROBBER #2 Fill ‘em. Fast. The tellers nervously do as they’re told. ROBBER #3 Everyone just stay calm and it will all be OK. ALEX (O.S.) Not so fast. A hero shot of ALEX HUNTER (34): A strong-jawed beefcake, exactly the kind of dude you’d picture to be a superhero -6’4” and 220 pounds of solid muscle packed into a lurid yellow and magenta spandex supersuit. Following right behind Alex is a small camera crew, ready to capture everything. Along with the crew is a tall, dark, and handsome man (but one you’d hate to encounter in a dark alley), RUSSELL HAYES, calmly watching the proceedings with a steely gaze. ROBBER #2 Ugh, really? Again? ALEX Bruno, what will your mother say? ROBBER #3 Who cares what his mother says? Alex snatches the gun from Robber #3.
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ALEX She’s the district attorney. I’ve got her on speed dial, wanna say hello? I’m sure she’ll have some strong words for you. And Bruno. ROBBER #1 Are you kidding me? (to his cronies) Deal with the boy scout. Before anyone can move, Alex bounds across the bank and picks up Robber #1 by the throat, drawing him up to eye level. Boy scout?
ALEX
ROBBER #1 I only mean that in the best possible way. Swift and unexpected, Robber #3 snatches his gun back from Alex and clocks him in the back of the head with it. Shocked, Alex drops Robber #1 to the floor, his face twisted in a grimace of pain. Covering, he whips around in a fury. ALEX You’re not going to be happy you did that. He punches Robber #3 in the face, and the guy drops like a load of bricks. Robber #2 raises his hands in surrender. ROBBER #2 I give up! Don’t hit me! A gaggle of police officers race in, ready to subdue and arrest the robbers. ALEX See, that’s what I’m talking about. (to the crowd) You’re all safe now, everyone! The crowd bursts into applause as Alex, surrounded by his camera crew, heads for the door. He rubs the spot where the gun hit him. INT. OFFICE - DAY (DAY 1) DANA HUNTER, 30, hunched over a pile of depositions at her desk.
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A tall drink of water poured into the crumpled suit of an overworked, passionless lawyer, her highlighter poised and ready to illuminate pertinent testimony. Enter JASON MCKENZIE, 30, lawyer, best friend, and bon vivant. You know he pores over Esquire every month for tips. Jason pulls on his jacket, then slings a messenger bag across his body. JASON Seven P.M., Dee. Can you hear it? I can hear it. Can you hear it? Dana, the bar is calling. Dana blinks at Jason, seeing spots from staring at the depositions for so long. A smile spreads across her face. Hell. Yes.
DANA
She and Jason look at each other for a beat. And then another. Dana forces herself to look away. DANA (CONT’D) Wait. It’s Thursday. Dinner at my parents’. Dana flicks off her computer and gets up. She pulls on her jacket and grabs her purse. JASON Come on, you’ve got time for a shot and a beer. Tell them there was a train delay. They have no concept of travel times. They walk through the upscale, empty office to the elevator. The spoils of $1200 an hour have clearly paid off here. Jason pushes the button. DANA The only way I could pull that off would be if you came too. Besides, they’re so much nicer to me when you’re there. Pretty please? The elevator arrives. They alight. INT. OFFICE ELEVATOR - CONTINUOUS JASON I might think about it if you come for one little shot... but it feels like I gotta get crazy tonight.
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DANA Jason, I’ve known you since 1984. Your brand of crazy ends up with you in bed by ten. JASON At least I’m not ALONE. DANA No, your teddy bear is there to keep the bogeyman away. The elevator opens. Ground floor. INT. LOBBY BAR - MOMENTS LATER CARA CONNOLLY (30, an eerie near-copy of Dana) sits at the bar with her father, DAVID (late 50s, salt-and-pepper, rich, powerful, kind of an Alec Baldwin vibe). They nurse drinks. On the TV screens around the bar, Alex’s face frequently pops up -- in news reports and on commercials. This dude’s a real commodity. DAVID This is the one. He nods in Jason’s direction as he and Dana come through the door. CARA At least this one’s cute. David wanders away from the bar, but keeps an eye on the proceedings. Jason and Dana head to the bar for service. JASON Jamie and a beer, please. DANA What happened to a shot, and then dinner? Dude, you suck. Just a Jamie for me, Carlos. CARLOS (the bartender. Tight black tee, easy smile, effortlessly hot) slides a shot to Dana. She throws it back and puts the glass on the bar, shattering it. JASON If it’s got you THAT upset, Dee, jeez --
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DANA N-no... I don’t know how that happened. JASON Just go. I’ll take care of it. DANA Bet you never thought being my cornerman would be so exciting. JASON Yeah, that’s it. They exchange a smile, then Dana exits. JASON (CONT’D) Hey Carlos, can I get a dust pan? Jason starts to clean up the mess. Cara goes in for the kill. CARA Looks like you’re gonna need another drink. Carlos, another Jamie and a beer. And put it on my tab. Jason turns to take in his benefactor. JASON My mom always said not to take booze from strangers. CARA Not even if they’re pretty? JASON Especially not if they’re pretty. CARA I’m Cara Connolly, and I’d like to ply you with alcohol. JASON It’s a pleasure to meet you, Cara. I’m Jason. Her eyes flash at Jason, who smiles despite himself. CARA The pleasure is all mine. Carlos places their drinks in front of them.
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JASON So, do you just sit in bars waiting to purchase drinks for random men? CARA Only when they’re cute and look like they need to blow off some steam. JASON I’ll drink to that. They exchange a smile and clink glasses. INT. ALEX’S TRAINING FACILITY - NIGHT (NIGHT 1) Alex sits in an interview set in the corner of the room. His megawatt smile is almost as bright as the TV lights. ALEX I love to help people, and make sure they’re protected. I help people sleep at night. DIRECTOR (O.S.) Cut! That’s great. We’ll put together a rough cut for the network tonight. Once the crew is gone, so is Alex’s smile. His hand instantly finds its way back to the location of his injury. ALEX Russ, I need you to take a look at my head. Something happened when I got hit with the gun. Russell peers at Alex’s head. No cuts, no bump, nothing. RUSSELL It looks fine. ALEX But it doesn’t feel fine. I can’t describe it, but something’s wrong. Russell crosses to the first aid kit hanging on the wall and pulls a large tub out of it. He returns to Alex. RUSSELL We’ll try the salve. But you probably just need some beer.
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Alex pulls a couple of beers out of a nearby cooler, and hands one to Russell. Two birds.
ALEX
Alex sits as still as possible while Russell applies the salve to the back of his head. RUSSELL Are you feeling it? Nothing.
ALEX
RUSSELL Let’s see what happens in the morning. ALEX Are you coming for dinner? RUSSELL No, I’m gonna sit in on the edits. Take the camera crew. INT. HUNTER LIVING ROOM
- NIGHT (NIGHT 1)
Dana enters through the front door as LETA HUNTER (late 50s, but still in incredible shape. This woman could throw down without a problem, and not just "for a girl". For a linebacker) comes in from the kitchen carrying two plates. It’s just like going to your parents’ house: faded furniture, out-of-date electronics, the lamps you grew up with. One wall is covered floor-to-ceiling with framed photographs of superheroes, newspaper articles and keys to a variety of cities -- from Paris, France to Boca Raton, FL. It’s a veritable museum of superheroics. Four TV tables are set up in front of the sofa and chairs. DANA Oh good, I thought I was late. Leta sets the plates down on the TV trays, then smiles at her daughter. Dana takes off her jacket and hangs it up. LETA Alex is running behind. We pushed dinner back an hour.
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Leta turns to go back into the kitchen as Dana rolls her eyes. LETA (CONT’D) I saw that! DANA (calling into the kitchen) Do you need any help? LETA (O.S.) No! Just make yourself comfortable. I’m sure you’ve had a long day lawyering. “Lawyering?” Dana shakes her head and sits down in one of the chairs. RON HUNTER, early 60s, a beefy man who has gone a little bit to seed, comes down the stairs. RON Hello princess. Once in the room, Ron turns on a police scanner. It begins to squawk and squeal in the background. He crosses over to Dana and kisses her on top of the head. DANA Hi Dad. Good day? Ron flops down onto the sofa and mashes the remote until the TV turns on. RON Ah, that’s the stuff. (beat) Pretty good, pumpkin. Wrote two chapters of my memoir. The First National Bank Robbery in Queens, 1976, and my friendship with Nixon. DANA Everybody loves a good story about Tricky Dick, dad. Sounds like a best seller. Leta comes back out of the kitchen with two more plates. She places them on the two empty TV tables, then sits down to tuck in. LETA Dig in, everyone.
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The door bursts open. Alex enters proudly, the camera crew right behind him. His parents beam when they see him, so proud. Dana barely looks up. DANA I swear to God, Alex, I will smash those cameras if they enter this house. ALEX Sorry guys. Let’s meet up tomorrow. Alex shuts the camera crew out, then joins the family. Leta turns a perfect front page grin on Alex. LETA Perfect timing, as always. Ron sits up, eager to hear the story of Alex’s latest adventure. RON How’d it go? Alex sits down on the sofa beside Ron. He speaks like he’s being interviewed. ALEX 28 lives saved, including four children and two kittens. Film at eleven. DANA (under her breath) It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Superdouche! (in full voice) I’ll be sure to DVR it. RON C’mon, Al. We’re your family, we deserve the details! LETA Capers are not dinner conversation. She glares at Ron, angling her head in Dana’s direction. Ron gets it. RON We’ll debrief after dinner.
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ALEX Let’s convene in the Fortress. DANA You mean the shed in the backyard? With the lawn chairs and that afghan from Grandma? ALEX There’s more than that out there –Alex catches himself. This is no way for a superhero to act, even if his sister is a bitch. ALEX (CONT’D) We all know I saved lives today, Dana. What did you do? DANA I’m glad you asked, Alex. This morning, I got up and put on a suit that’s not made of Lycra. Then, I left my very own apartment and went to my job as a lawyer. There, I contributed to the largest class action suit in state history, one that will benefit thousands of people. ALEX Sounds pretty average to me. LETA That’s enough out of both of you. Alex, your sister has worked very hard to get to where she is. Not everyone has the same abilities we do. DANA Alex, your little costume doesn’t change the fact that you’re thirtyfour and have never had a girlfriend. That’s a story I’m sure Time magazine would love. No response. Dana prepares for an argument, but neither Ron nor Alex are listening. Their attention is focused on the squawking police scanner. RON Did you hear that? Train derailment!
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On my way!
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ALEX
He scrambles for the door. Ron jumps up in excitement, and something in his back pulls. OW!
RON
He collapses onto the couch, holding his back. Ron!
LETA
Alex returns to the couch as Dana bolts toward the kitchen. DANA I got the ice pack. ALEX No, he needs heat. Ron leans forward as Alex conjures fire from his hands, and holds them close enough to Ron to feel therapeutic. INT. HUNTER KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS Dana pulls an ice pack out of the freezer. Leta follows. DANA He’s such an idiot. Heat is going to make it worse. LETA I’ll take care of it. Go back and eat your dinner. DANA I’ve lost my appetite. Leta takes the ice pack and goes back to the living room. She’s back in a flash, all smiles. Too smiley. LETA I’m glad we’ve got a moment to be alone. We really don’t spend enough time together, sweetie. DANA The last time we had a girls’ day, we got pedicures. Somebody almost died.
Just Super. | "Origin Story" LETA I warned her that I was ticklish! DANA You’re lucky your kick didn’t send her nose into her brain! And that the press didn’t find out about it. LETA Angela McKenzie’s the best cornerman in the business, honey. And she taught Jason everything she knows. Dana refuses to engage with her mother on this subject. Moving on... LETA (CONT’D) I ran into Janet Carter the other day. You remember her, from down the street? Dana starts looking through the cabinets. LETA (CONT’D) What are you looking for? DANA Booze. Hooch. Cough syrup if I have to. LETA Dana, must you always be so dramatic? It doesn’t take superpowers to see what’s coming next. DANA FINE. (playing dumb) How is Mrs. Carter? LETA Fine, fine. We had quite the chat. She couldn’t stop talking about her son -Eric?
DANA
LETA Yes. He’s apparently a very successful architect. And he’s single.
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DANA “Living in her basement” single, “successful drag queen single”, or “baby talks to his apartment full of cats” single? LETA Dana, you won’t let us help you find someone from our community. I’m trying to be on your side, here. DANA “Our” community? You guys usually want to hide me under the rug when capes come around. Besides, what does it matter? LETA Your father and I would like you to have children with abilities. DANA But being the best capes on the planet isn’t a guarantee of offspring ability. Obviously. Dana’s lack of superpowers -- still a sore subject, all these years later. DANA (CONT’D) FINE, I’ll think about it. Thank you.
LETA
They head back toward the living room. DANA Does this mean you’ve given up on Superdouche ever procreating? END COLD OPEN
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ACT ONE INT. OFFICE - DAY (DAY 2) Dana glances nervously around the nearly empty office. The coast is clear. She types furiously, hits enter. The page loads. JACKPOT! INSERT: A shot of Eric Carter’s profile page on Facebook (or a TV-approved Facebook-esque website). JASON (O.S.) That looks like a hotter version of Eric Carter from high school. Dana jumps, and turns to see Jason right behind her. DANA No, it's the actual Eric Carter from high school. My mom’s playing matchmaker. (beat) You’re here early. Jason pulls his spare suit off the coat rack. JASON Haven’t been home yet. DANA You... got your crazy night. JASON I don’t kiss and tell. I’ll just say that you should go for Eric. Then you could double with me and the girl I met last night. What? No fucking way. Oh God, he’s actually serious. Finally, Dana plasters a smile on her face. DANA Nice! (beat) I’m gonna -- Eric -- yeah. JASON Tap that, Dee!
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Jason heads off to change. Dana takes a moment to catch her breath, then picks up the phone and dials. DANA Hi, Eric? It’s Dana Hunter. Ha! Yes, they’re great aren’t they? (beat) Tonight? Sure. (beat) I love that place. See you there. She hangs up. A date. It was just that simple. INT. ALEX’S BEDROOM - DAY (DAY 2) Alex wakes up slowly, gingerly. The sunlight streaming into the room makes him wince in pain. He sits up and looks around the room, his glance finally landing on a candle. He grabs it and tries to light it by snapping his fingers. No dice. He stares at his hands for a moment, not a little bit worried, then tries again. Still nothing. He finally gets out of bed, gives himself a shake, and tries it one more time. Success -- sort of. A tiny, flickering flame erupts from his fingertips. Super.
ALEX
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT (NIGHT 2) Dana and Eric (31 and the kind of hot one becomes after a really awkward adolescence) sit at dinner, all smiles, sparks, and chemistry. It’s easily one of the top 5 first dates of all time. ERIC This has been a lot of fun. DANA Shockingly so. Our mothers have nailed this attempt at matchmaking. ERIC It’s gotta be the luck of the draw. I’m not ready to let the moms win yet.
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ERIC (CONT'D) Especially not there’s one more criterion for you to meet, Dana. Scotch? DANA I’ve got a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue at home right now. Care to join me? ERIC Absolutely. INT. DANA’S APARTMENT - NIGHT (NIGHT 2) Dana and Eric enter, nervous, awkward, and excited. DANA Two Blues, coming up? Dana starts for the kitchen, but Eric grabs her hand and pulls her back to him. Their bodies entwine effortlessly and they kiss. It goes from sweet to hot in about three seconds. Just a little bit shocked to find herself in this situation, Dana guides Eric toward the sofa, still kissing him. It gets hotter by the second. No, really. Eric is visibly getting warmer. ERIC Wait, wait. Eric pulls his jacket off. So hot. Yeah.
DANA ERIC
They dive back into the kiss. Dana gently pushes Eric onto the sofa, and he lands as though shoved. She kisses him hard as her hand travels south. We hear a belt being unbuckled, jeans unzipping. Eric gets a surprised yet happy look on his face. A few beats, and we begin to see smoke coming from below. Eric breaks the kiss. ERIC (CONT’D) Do you smell that? What?
DANA
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ERIC Smoke -- Ow. Ow. Ow. Dana, stop! They both look down. This is not good. Eric is stunned, horrified, paralyzed. What the hell just happened? DANA Oh my God! Do you need to go to the hospital? I have ointment. Or butter? Wait, no that’s bad. Mustard? She rushes to the fridge. DANA (CONT’D) Wow, I actually happen to have Grey Poupon. ERIC STOP MENTIONING CONDIMENTS! Dana riffles through a drawer and returns with a first aid kit. DANA There has to be something I can do. Anything. Let me look at it. Eric pulls away. The best first date ever has devolved into Burn Unit Theater. ERIC Just -- no. He gets up gingerly, fastens his pants, and leaves, Dana at his heels. DANA (brightly) Call me! Damn. She gently pushes the door shut. It slams so hard, three pictures fall off the wall. Dana is perplexed. INT. DANA’S APARTMENT - DAY (DAY 3) The apartment is in shambles. Jars with previously stuck lids lie open across the kitchen. Broken glasses and dishes are everywhere. And in the living room, the charred remains of a chair.
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Dana sits on the sofa in her clothes from the night before, mesmerized by her hands like she’s high. A half-smile brightens her face: DANA I have powers. She shoots some flames at a nearby trash can. Its contents ignite spectacularly. Powers!
DANA (CONT’D)
She plays with a bit of fire between her hands until she notices the trash can fire spreading to the curtains. Dana jumps up and grabs the fire extinguisher that sits beside her on the couch. It’s clearly gotten some use overnight. She blasts the fire to oblivion, and the extinguisher crumples in her hands. END OF ACT ONE
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ACT TWO EXT. CAFE PATIO – DAY (DAY 3) Wearing workout clothes and toting a yoga mat, Dana chugs a massive coffee. Which she promptly chokes on when she lays eyes on Jason, sitting on a patio, lip-locked with Cara. Now that they’re together, the likeness between the women is uncanny. Jase! Hey!
DANA
Jason breaks the kiss, instantly uncomfortable. Dee!
JASON
(beat, he jumps up to hug her) You’re going to the gym? DANA Woke up early and figured, why not? JASON Because there are eggs Benedict to be eaten. Mimosas to drink. We’re -this is Cara. Cara eyes Dana warily. They nod at one another, Dana in a much friendlier fashion. JASON(CONT’D) You gotta join us. CARA (too friendly) Yes, join us! DANA My yoga class starts in ten. But have fun. Jason has no idea who this person pretending to be Dana is. JASON ("Lucy, you got some 'splaining to do") OK. I’ll call you later. DANA Great. Nice to meet you, Cara.
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Dana continues on her way, straight past the yoga studio and down the alley beside it. INT. GYM - DAY (DAY 3) Close on Dana, nervously stretching for class. TEACHER (O.S.) Before we begin, I’d just like to make sure we’re all here for the same class, and remind everyone that parents are not permitted to participate. Pull back to reveal that Dana is the only adult in a class full of 12-year-old girls. There’s a giant banner proclaiming “Cape Training: You Go Girl!” DANA Oh? This... isn’t hot yoga? (beat) Whoops! She sheepishly gathers her things and leaves the room. EXT. CAFE PATIO – MOMENTS LATER Cara chats happily, eyes glued to Jason. He’s mainlining coffee, perhaps to stay awake during the conversation. We overhear Cara as Jason’s eyes lock onto Dana, walking back down the street. CARA But then Jenny said that it would look better in the matte finish, so we had to get ANOTHER opinion, and finally, we just decided to stick with the birch veneer. Jason looks up as Dana whizzes past. JASON That was fast. She doesn’t stop. Dana?
JASON (CONT’D)
She’s gone. CARA Listen to me, babbling on about furniture.
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CARA (CONT'D) I’m sure you’d rather talk about sports or work or something. JASON Cara, I’m sorry, but I have to go. CARA I -- uh -- let me come with you. I’ll help. JASON It’s kind of personal. I’ll call you. He kisses Cara on the cheek, tosses down some bills, then exits. She waits a few beats, then follows sneakily. INT. DANA’S APARTMENT - LATER Dana enters with a shopping bag and sees Jason surveying her ravaged apartment. JASON What the hell happened here? DANA Where’s your date? JASON Dana. This is serious. Did you get robbed or something? She grabs a candle off the coffee table and joins him. DANA Jason. Look around. If anything, this situation requires a little levity. She lights it with the snap of her fingers. Jason’s eyes go wide. JASON Holy shit, you have POWERS? DANA Turns out I’m the latest of late bloomers. How --
JASON
Just Super. | "Origin Story" DANA Things got a little hot with Eric last night. Is he OK?
JASON
DANA He probably didn’t need to go to the ER. Dee.
JASON
DANA I couldn’t help it! (beat, bummed) Things were going so well. JASON So this morning, you weren’t going to yoga... DANA Kicked out of cape training for preteen girls, yes. JASON Are you going to tell Ron and Leta? DANA God, they’d do something like put an ad in the Bolt. “Look everybody, she’s NOT broken!” Or worse -they’d make me team up with my brother. JASON Superdouche and his bag. Jackass!
DANA
She smacks him on the arm. JASON Ow! You DID get stronger. That’s going to leave a mark. DANA You deserved it. And, you’re lucky I didn’t set you on fire. A beat, then Jason puts on a resolute face.
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JASON I should go take care of Eric and pick up a few things. Meet me at four, OK? DANA I’ll be there. JASON In the meantime, try and get some sleep. It’ll help your impulse control. DANA No, I meant to hit you. JASON Is that any way to treat your cornerman? DANA I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it up to me. JASON Guaranteed. Don’t be late. EXT. DANA’S APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY (DAY 3) Hidden in the shadows of a building across the street -adjacent to a poster featuring Alex -- Cara watches Jason walk up the street. INT. ERIC’S APARTMENT HALLWAY - DAY (DAY 3) Jason, carrying a shopping bag, stops in front of Eric’s door. A deep breath, and he knocks. ERIC (O.S.) Wh-who is it? JASON Jason McKenzie from St. Sebastian’s? (beat) Dana’s friend? The door opens, chain still latched. Eric is a little wildeyed. ERIC What do you want? Jason raises the bag to Eric’s eye level.
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JASON I heard about your evening and wanted to offer my assistance. The door closes, and Eric takes off the lock. INT. ERIC’S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS Jason comes inside and sets down the bag. Eric is shifty. JASON What have you done to it so far? ERIC Are you a doctor? JASON Not even a little bit. (beat) Y’know, Dana would’ve helped you treat this. You should’ve stayed. There’s nothing like “please forgive me” sex, man. Uh...
ERIC
Eric indicates his crotch. JASON No. WAY. (under his breath) Oh, Dana. Jason pulls up a chair. A deep breath, then he goes for Eric’s shorts. ERIC What the hell are you doing? JASON I need to SEE the burn to treat it, don’t I? And trust me, this isn’t how I expected to spend my Saturday. Timidly, Eric pulls down his shorts. Jason’s head keeps us from seeing anything. JASON (CONT’D) No blistering. That’s a good sign. You’ll be fine in no time.
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Jason pulls a tub of salve (the same stuff Russell used on Alex earlier) out of the bag and opens it. He stops. JASON (CONT’D) You’re probably gonna need a beer. And while you’re at it, grab me one, too. Eric turns toward fridge. JASON (CONT’D) Wait, it’s probably better if I get it. At the fridge: JASON (CONT’D) No beer. What about Scotch? Jack? Jager? Ransacking the cupboards: Nothing of note, but Jason keeps searching. JASON (CONT’D) OK, we’re looking for anything even remotely alcoholic. But if you come back with cough syrup, I might have to kill you. Finally, something. A dusty bottle of Tequila Rose. Barf. He fishes two mostly-clean coffee mugs out of the sink and slams them on the counter. ERIC I wasn’t expecting company. JASON Or anyone who isn’t a stripper from Reno. All right bro, we’ll just make do with this alcoholic Pepto. I hope. He cracks open the bottle and fills each mug to the brim. JASON (CONT’D) Pound it back, dude. They shotgun their drinks, then try not to vomit. Back to work. Jason sticks his hand into the tub and starts applying the salve to Eric’s junk. The things a cornerman gets forced to do...
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ERIC That feels really hot. Jason pours another drink and hands it to Eric, who downs it. JASON I’m not going to lie to you, Eric. This is gonna hurt like a mother. But once it’s done, I promise -good as new. Oh, and you need to think about baseball. Jason continues putting the salve on Eric’s back, until the burn is covered. Slowly, the wound begins to glow. ERIC (in acute pain) I should’ve just taken my chances with Dana. JASON That’s what I’m telling you, man. Something stirs below Eric’s belt. Jason smacks Eric upside the head. Ow!
ERIC
JASON I told you to think about baseball. For that, no more girly booze to help with the pain. Jason dumps the remains of the bottle down the drain as Eric’s face contorts in pain. After a few moments of agony, the glowing stops and Eric’s back is as good as new. ERIC Wow. It feels better. It LOOKS better. JASON What feels better? ERIC I--I don’t know. Me, I guess.
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JASON Let’s keep it that way, shall we? Now, put your shirt on, and when I see you at the reunion, we won’t speak of this. Eric does as he’s told. Jason gets up and heads for the door. ERIC Now what do I do? JASON You’re gonna call Dana for a second date. Eric nods in agreement. Jason pats him on the head and leaves. INT. OFFICE - DAY (DAY 3) A ‘creative’ office space trying too hard to be cool -- beat up leather couches, a foosball table, full Xbox Rock Band setup. Alex and Russell sit uncomfortably on one of those couches, while TWO HIPSTER EXECUTIVES in their early 40s, replete with artfully waxed hair, thick-framed plastic glasses, ironic Tshirts and expensive hoodies, hold court at the desk. EXECUTIVE #1 Now, we love what you’re doing. Love it. Especially the suit. It really pops! EXECUTIVE #2 But we’re not really sensing the excitement of the life of a superhero. RUSSELL Well, it’s raw footage. It’ll get the hook in editing. EXECUTIVE #1 That could be true. But if we’re going to move forward, we’ll need you to dig deeper. EXECUTIVE #2 Let us EXPERIENCE your world. Alex, show us everything. Use your powers more! Your public needs to see everything you have to offer.
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EXECUTIVE #2 (CONT'D) Like, your sister. Find a way to get into that disappointment. ALEX Uh, we don’t really expose Dana to the cape world. It’s just not fair to her. EXECUTIVE #1 This isn’t exactly the cape world. And EVERYBODY wants to be famous. ALEX We'll see you next week with more footage. Alex exits. Russell starts to follow, but stops to cast a steely gaze on the executives. RUSSELL Sit tight. You’ll get what you’re looking for. EXT. PARK - DAY (DAY 3) Dana walks through the large park. A massive crowd has gathered around a stage. Near the side of the stage, she spots her brother’s eye-meltingly yellow suit. Dana weaves through the crowd toward the stage, stopping in front of Russell, who’s speaking furtively into his phone. RUSSELL Yes. 8:30. Two. I have to go. Call me later. (to Dana) Sorry Dana, capes only. DANA You’re definitely not a cape. A wet blanket, maybe. A douche for sure. Shall I continue? RUSSELL Just give it up. You’re not wanted here. DANA Always a charmer. Your mommy must be so proud. Rage flashes in Russell’s eyes, but he forces himself to stand down.
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They glare at each other for a moment, then Dana notices Leta and Ron -- in full costume -- following Alex toward the stage. DANA (CONT’D) Is this some stunt for your ridiculous television show? What's next? Alex adopts triplets? God, Russell, you keep signing him up for this bullshit, and it, it cheapens the nobility of being a cape. You are such an opportunistic son of a -Cutting Dana's diatribe short, we cut to Alex, approaching the microphone on stage. ALEX Thank you all for coming today. For the past 40 years, this city has been protected and defended by two amazing people. A smattering of applause. ALEX (CONT’D) Incredigirl and The Defender devoted their lives to protecting this city and its citizens. Alex continues his speech from the dais as Leta watches Dana and Russell argue heatedly nearby, not a little concerned. ALEX (CONT’D) As a small token of gratitude, on behalf of each and every one of you out there, we present this statue. Russell summons his henchmen to remove Dana from the park. The three burly men capture Dana and carry her through the park. DANA Seriously, you guys, this really isn’t necessary. I don’t know why he always goes straight to henchmen. At first she struggles, but before they notice her new strength, her self-protection instinct kicks in.
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ALEX Marking the spot where they vanquished their first villains together, this statue is a constant reminder to evildoers that we will not turn a blind eye to their actions. DANA You guys are like that dude who carried Oscar the Grouch around sometimes. And equally as talkative. ALEX No, we will fight them at every turn. And we will win. The crowd cheers, and Alex tips his head to his parents in thanks. Wordlessly, the henchmen put Dana down on the sidewalk at the park’s edge, conveniently on the opposite side of the park from where she entered. DANA At the very least, thanks for the shortcut, you guys. I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon. Maybe next time one of you can bring snacks. One of the henchmen reaches into his pocket and pulls out a baggie of goldfish crackers. He hands it to Dana before they lumber back into the park. INT. GYM - DAY (DAY 3) A large, mostly empty gymnasium with free weights and boxing equipment around the perimeter and mats on the floor. Jason, now in workout clothes, stretches as he waits as Dana enters and joins in. JASON First session and you’re already late? DANA There’s a reason. (off his reaction) A good one, I swear. I was cutting through the park, and Superdouche was there. And so were my parents.
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DANA (CONT'D) They were unveiling a freaking STATUE of them. JASON And you didn’t know about it? DANA No! Nobody told me a thing. Really?
JASON
DANA OK, maybe somebody might have mentioned it. But I was never INVITED. And when I talked to Russell, he had some of his henchmen remove me. JASON You mean Bobby, Charlie, and Craig? DANA Saying their names doesn’t turn them into Care Bears, Jason. I’m lucky Superdouche didn’t order them to beat me up. And before you ask, no, I didn’t fight against them. I’m not stupid enough to let anyone else know about my powers. Yet. JASON OK then, let’s see how not stupid you are. A montage of Dana doing (mostly) really well at the tasks Jason gives her: Boxing: she's got great form and hits her marks, if a little out of breath. Kickboxing: She lands a great kick, but then loses her balance and collapses spectacularly onto the mats. And then: DANA Really? Fencing? Am I going back to 17th century Europe? They perry and thrust, swashbucklers in lycra and CoolMax.
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JASON It teaches focus, agility, and how to stay one step ahead of your enemies. DANA Plus you lettered in it in college. Nerd. After clashing a couple of times, Dana lands the winning blow. DANA (CONT’D) What’s next? Gimme a challenge this time. They stare each other down for a moment. They're sweaty, warm, breathing heavily, and waiting to see who’ll blink first. You sure? Try me.
JASON DANA
JASON But first, a wager. DANA All right. What do I get after I kick your ass? JASON Cockiness gets you nowhere. You win, I will take you out and get you drunk while some minions clean your apartment. I win, you tell your parents about your powers. Tonight. I’ll even come with you. (beat) Your goal is to bring me to the floor for a count of three. Bring it.
DANA
They face off. Not three moves in, Jason’s got Dana pinned to the floor. She's basically eating the mat. DANA (CONT’D) I guess this little display is supposed to teach me something.
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Jason helps Dana to her feet. JASON You have no idea the things I've got to teach you, Dee. Now let’s go. Ron and Leta need to get their worlds rocked. DANA Can’t we get drunk first? No. Please?
JASON DANA
JASON Seriously, are you three? DANA How many three-year-olds do you know who like to get drunk? (off Jason’s non-reaction) Fine. Let’s go. But you’re buying me dinner after. JASON Ah, I’ll just buy you a bottle of wine and a mega-straw. INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT (NIGHT 3) At a quiet corner in the back of a busy restaurant, Cara and David confer. CARA This is more of a challenge than I expected. DAVID Just yesterday, you said he was eating out of your hand. CARA He was, but then the girl had some kind of drama. DAVID Sounds like you need to be working more than the obvious angle. CARA What’s that supposed to mean?
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DAVID I raised you to be better at this. Connollys succeed by any means necessary, Cara. Cara sits, speechless, as Russell arrives. He takes a seat at the table and pours himself a glass of wine. RUSSELL Am I interrupting? CARA No, I’m just being scolded. RUSSELL Are you being a naughty girl? DAVID She’s being incompetent. CARA I can’t control everything. He stood me up. What am I supposed to do? Your job. Fine.
DAVID CARA
She gets to her feet and storms off. RUSSELL Is there something more to that? DAVID There’s something... complex about this case, I’m not sure what it is. RUSSELL Make sure you take care of it. We can’t afford any mistakes. DAVID Don’t worry, the plan will progress with or without my daughter. EXT. STREET - NIGHT (NIGHT 3) Dana and Jason emerge from the subway and start down a mostly residential street. A chime comes from Jason’s pocket. He glances at the message, then ignores it.
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DANA Brunch girl? Jealous?
JASON
DANA What’s she saying? JASON She can’t meet for drinks tonight. Something came up at work. DANA You mean Connolly’s beloved progeny actually works for a living? Lemme guess, she’s an “interior designer”. JASON Retract the claws. I don’t know what she does. We didn’t get that far in the conversation. DANA Such a dog. It’s like those two weeks in 1998, all over again! (beat) What's that smell? Jason’s silent, sucked into the reality ahead of them: the flashing lights of fire engines, ambulances, police cruisers, two TV trucks, and all the requisite personnel. The Hunter home is now a smoking pile of rubble overrun with first responders and media. Jason and Dana are dumbfounded and speechless. FADE OUT. END OF ACT THREE
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TAG EXT. STREET - NIGHT (NIGHT 3) Jason stands stock still, stunned. Dana propels herself into the fray, throwing herself directly in the path of a cop. DANA What’s going on here? What happened? Fitz? DETECTIVE SERGEANT MARTIN FITZPATRICK (FITZ to us) comes over. In his late 50s, barrel chested and strong jawed, Fitz fought crime alongside Incredigirl and The Defender in the ‘70s, and has remained close with the family. FITZ Dana, you shouldn’t see this. I was just about to send someone to your house. DANA Well, I’m here. Jason catches up to them. FITZ We don’t know quite yet. It looks like an explosion, but we’re not certain if it was a bomb, or an inhome accident. DANA What, like dad mistakenly stuck some C4 in the microwave? Fitz, the home of two of the greatest capes of all time has blown up, and you’re not sure if it was deliberate? At that moment, the coroner’s team removes two stretchers from the rubble, each bearing a black body bag. Alex chooses that moment to arrive, a gaggle of cameras, lights, and sound guys at his heels. ALEX Fitz, what -- what happened? Alex notices the body bags too, and vaults into a reaction that rivals Shatner at his best. Worst? Whatever, it’s classic Shatner.
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ALEX (CONT’D) This can’t be. No. I -- I can’t believe this. He drops to his knees and wails at the sky. Noooooooo!
ALEX (CONT’D)
Dana reaches down and pulls Alex to his feet, then swiftly lands a perfect right cross to his face, in full view of the camera. The punch knocks him back with unexpected force. His eyes blaze. Quickly, Fitz throws himself between them. DANA You sniveling little shit. I will BEAT YOU TO DEATH WITH MY SHOE. She pulls off her shoe and lunges at him, but Fitz and Jason manage to grab and control her. ALEX Did you see that? Perhaps we don’t have to look very far to find our culprit. It’s Dana’s turn to look like she’s been punched. Jason glares at Russell, who has finally made his way through the crowd. JASON Great job, Russ. Wonderful. Let’s go, Dee. FITZ Jason, we’ll need to talk to her at some point. Soon. JASON I know. But that time is not now. INT. JASON’S APARTMENT - NIGHT (NIGHT 3) Jason unlocks the door and leads a nearly catatonic Dana into the apartment. DANA Maybe I should’ve told them earlier. I could’ve helped.
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JASON Or exploded. You can barely even control your powers at this point. DANA So I could’ve set the bastards who did this on fire or something. Protected them. They sit in silence, side by side on the couch. Dana lets out a huge sigh. DANA (CONT’D) God, I’m gonna have to fight crime now. Seek vengeance and all that. (beat) Fucking Batman, ruining it for everyone. JASON What does he know anyway? He doesn’t even have powers. Dana smiles and rests her head on Jason’s shoulder. He wraps his arms around her. She buries her face in his neck. He strokes her hair, then kisses the top of her head. Dana looks up at him, broken and uncertain. They study one another, like they’re each seeing a new person. Tears run down Dana’s face. Jason wipes them away, and time seems to stop as they share their first kiss. It quickly transcends comfort and becomes deep and passionate, a full-on make out session. Dana stops. She reaches across the sofa to turn off the lamp before returning her attention to Jason. INT. CABIN - NIGHT (NIGHT 3) An unidentified person walks into a small, sparsely decorated cabin and flips on a weak lamp. Not a lot of light, but enough. Enough light to reveal Ron and Leta. They’ve been beaten, drugged, and bound. They’re completely unaware of the evening’s events, but ALIVE. FADE OUT. END OF SHOW